CVE-2015-5122: Adobe Flash Player Use-After-Free Vulnerability

Patch now

CRITICAL 9.8EXPLOITEDREMOTEWATCHLISTUPGRADEUPGRADEUPGRADE

CVE-2015-5122 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting flash player, flash player, flash player desktop runtime, reported as exploited in the wild. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Use-after-free vulnerability in the DisplayObject class in the ActionScript 3 (AS3) implementation in Adobe Flash Player 13.x through 13.0.0.302 on Windows and OS X, 14.x through 18.0.0.203 on Windows and OS X, 11.x through 11.2.202.481 on Linux, and 12.x through 18.0.0.204 on Linux Chrome installations allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via crafted Flash content that leverages impro

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
Public exploit reference
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	87.0% (top 1%)
CISA exploited list	Yes, fix due 2022-05-04
Weakness	CWE-416
Published	2015-07-14
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Adobe Systems Incorporated · Vendor: adobe · redhat

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2015-07-14 10:59 UTCPublished CVE record published
2022-04-13Exploited Added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
2022-05-04Deadline CISA due date for US federal agencies to patch
2026-06-17 00:28 UTCUpdated Record last modified

adobe flash player UPGRADE

Affected: >= 13.0 and <= 13.0.0.302 · >= 11.0 and <= 11.2.202.481

Fixed in: newer than 13.0.0.302

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 11.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy flash-player || rpm -q flash-player || flash-player --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 13.0.0.302 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade flash-player

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade flash-player

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 11.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison flash-player sudo apt install flash-player=<VERSION_BEFORE_11.0> sudo apt-mark hold flash-player

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list flash-player sudo dnf downgrade flash-player-<VERSION_BEFORE_11.0> sudo dnf versionlock add flash-player

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

adobe flash player UPGRADE

Affected: >= 18.0 and <= 18.0.0.203 · >= 18.0 and <= 18.0.0.204

Fixed in: newer than 18.0.0.204

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 18.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy flash-player || rpm -q flash-player || flash-player --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 18.0.0.204 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade flash-player

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade flash-player

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 18.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison flash-player sudo apt install flash-player=<VERSION_BEFORE_18.0> sudo apt-mark hold flash-player

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list flash-player sudo dnf downgrade flash-player-<VERSION_BEFORE_18.0> sudo dnf versionlock add flash-player

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

adobe flash player desktop runtime UPGRADE

Affected: >= 18.0 and <= 18.0.0.203

Fixed in: newer than 18.0.0.203

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 18.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy flash-player-desktop-runtime || rpm -q flash-player-desktop-runtime || flash-player-desktop-runtime --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 18.0.0.203 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade flash-player-desktop-runtime

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade flash-player-desktop-runtime

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 18.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison flash-player-desktop-runtime sudo apt install flash-player-desktop-runtime=<VERSION_BEFORE_18.0> sudo apt-mark hold flash-player-desktop-runtime

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list flash-player-desktop-runtime sudo dnf downgrade flash-player-desktop-runtime-<VERSION_BEFORE_18.0> sudo dnf versionlock add flash-player-desktop-runtime

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

adobe flash player UPGRADE

Affected: >= 18.0 and <= 18.0.0.203

Fixed in: newer than 18.0.0.203

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 18.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy flash-player || rpm -q flash-player || flash-player --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 18.0.0.203 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade flash-player

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade flash-player

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 18.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison flash-player sudo apt install flash-player=<VERSION_BEFORE_18.0> sudo apt-mark hold flash-player

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list flash-player sudo dnf downgrade flash-player-<VERSION_BEFORE_18.0> sudo dnf versionlock add flash-player

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

adobe flash player UPGRADE

Affected: >= 18.0 and <= 18.0.0.203

Fixed in: newer than 18.0.0.203

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 18.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy flash-player || rpm -q flash-player || flash-player --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 18.0.0.203 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade flash-player

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade flash-player

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 18.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison flash-player sudo apt install flash-player=<VERSION_BEFORE_18.0> sudo apt-mark hold flash-player

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list flash-player sudo dnf downgrade flash-player-<VERSION_BEFORE_18.0> sudo dnf versionlock add flash-player

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

redhat enterprise linux desktop MITIGATE

Affected: 5.0 · 6.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 5.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora 46 · perl-Net-IDN-Encode · FIXED · 2.600-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-84eff0ea64 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-84eff0ea64

Fedora ELN · libXISF · FIXED · 0.2.15-2.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-b9e2d1bda0 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-b9e2d1bda0

RHEL 5 Supplementary · flash-plugin · FIXED · flash-plugin-11.2.202.491-1.el5

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2015:1235 rpm -q flash-plugin

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Write-up: perception-point.io/new/breaking-cfi.php
Write-up: www.exploit-db.com/exploits/37599/
Exploit-DB: Adobe Flash - opaqueBackground Use-After-Free (Metasploit)
Metasploit: Adobe Flash opaqueBackground Use After Free

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · CISA KEV catalog · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2015-5122?

flash player: upgrade to newer than 13.0.0.302; flash player: upgrade to newer than 18.0.0.204; flash player desktop runtime: upgrade to newer than 18.0.0.203. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2015-5122 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2015-5122 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

What does CVE-2015-5122 affect?

CVE-2015-5122 affects flash player, flash player, flash player desktop runtime. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). Use-after-free vulnerability in the DisplayObject class in the ActionScript 3 (AS3) implementation in Adobe Flash Player 13.x through 13.0.0.302 on Windows and OS X, 14.x through 18.0.0.203 on Windows and OS X, 11.x through 11.2.202.481 on

How urgent is CVE-2015-5122?

Priority 99/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

Windows vulnerabilities · Google Chrome vulnerabilities · Adobe Flash vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2018-15982 HIGH 7.8 EXPLOITED UPGRADE UPGRADE Adobe Flash Player Use-After-Free Vulnerability
CVE-2016-1019 CRITICAL 9.8 EXPLOITED UPGRADE UPGRADE Adobe Flash Player Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability
CVE-2016-4117 CRITICAL 9.8 EXPLOITED UPGRADE MITIGATE Adobe Flash Player Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability
CVE-2020-9746 HIGH 7.0 UPGRADE UPGRADE Adobe Flash Player version 32.0.0.433 (and earlier) are affected by an exploitable NULL pointer dereference vu
CVE-2020-9633 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE UPGRADE Adobe Flash Player Desktop Runtime 32.0.0.371 and earlier, Adobe Flash Player for Google Chrome 32.0.0.371 and

References

← Back to latest CVEs